EXPLORE THE WORLD OF ANTIQUE MAPS

The first maps of the various parts of the world were printed in Italy from engraved copper plates and were issued as atlases. The first atlas appeared in the year 1477 and was produced in Bologna. The second was published in 1480 in Rome and the third atlas came from Florence in 1482, from which map 12 originates. It was the first printed atlas to have maps and accompanying text in Italian, which was written by Francesco Berlinghieri. The previous atlases were in latin. Map 12 is of Persia and is of extreme rarity. All these early maps were based on Ptolemy's measurements made in the second century AD of the positions of about 7000 towns. These measurements were based on latitude and other information. These positions were formed into maps, perhaps by Ptolemy himself, or after his death, as some experts believe. The maps were copied by hand, which is how they survived down the centuries, and began to be updated in the latter part of the fifteenth century as exploration began. Berlinghieri's edition of Ptolemy's maps included four 'modern' maps for the first time, namely France, Spain, Italy and Palestine. His map of Persia was Ptolemaic, but included a small amount of updated information.The map is in fine condition. Incidentally, Nordenskiold dates the Berlinghieri atlas 1478, giving it priority over the Rome edition. The Italians remained the leading engravers of maps for the next century. See also map 15. (Currently we also hold Berlinghieri's map of western Russia.)